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Depression Screening Day
2011 Depression Screening Day has passed, but if you would like to speak to a counselor, please contact us at: 508.366.3090 or yfs@town.westborough.ma.us
Westborough Youth and Family Services and Assabet Valley Pastoral Counseling Center are  co-sponsoring National Depression Screening Day on October 6th. This yearly event offers the community an opportunity for free, confidential screenings for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
As we approach the 21st anniversary of this national screening event, we find ourselves in an ongoing economic recession that has created hardships for many local families. Counselors at WYFS know firsthand that children and adolescents do worry about family finances when they notice that their parents are stressed. They often carry this worry internally, and choose not to discuss their concerns at home.
Anxiety, stress and depression in children and teens can manifest in many ways including:
- a decreased ability to concentrate
- a drop in school grades
- uncharacteristic or excessive irritability
- stomachaches or headaches; moodiness
- interpersonal problems with peers
- difficulty handling daily stressors
- frequent sadness or hopelessness
- low energy or boredom
- low self-esteem
- changes in eating or sleeping habits
- substance use or other unsafe behaviors
We invite the community to participate in National Depression Screening Day on October 6th, 10am-7pm. Confidential screening appointments can be arranged by calling Westborough Youth and Family Services at 508-366-3090 or emailing yfs@town.westborough.ma.us. Appointments take about 30 minutes, and involve completing a brief questionnaire and discussing the results with a counselor. If further services are indicated, a referral will be made to assist the individual in locating local mental health service providers.
Screenings will be held in the WYFS offices, in the Forbes Municipal Building, 45 West Main Street, Westborough. Children, teens, and adults are welcome.
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